20th-century espionage

20th-century espionage involved governments secretly gathering intelligence to understand rivals’ military plans, political shifts, and technological advancements. It included sophisticated spying techniques like code-breaking, undercover agents, and wiretapping. Key moments included the Cold War rivalry between the U.S. and USSR, with events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and spy swaps. Espionage shaped international relations, often influencing wars and diplomatic decisions, and evolved from simple informants to high-tech electronic surveillance, making it a crucial, covert aspect of 20th-century geopolitics.